GDC Industry Survey Reveals 35% of Game Developers Focus on XR Projects

Even with the ups and downs in the industry, the world of XR development is holding steady, as revealed by the annual Game Developer Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry Survey. According to this survey, 35% of developers are actively working on XR projects.

Hosted in San Francisco, this conference is a must-visit event for game developers everywhere. It’s a prime opportunity for studios to showcase their creations, engage with the developer community, and learn from top-tier platform holders and game companies.

Though the GDC happens each March, their surveys are conducted online late in the year, ensuring the data is current. This year marks the first time the State of the Industry Survey specifically asked about XR content creation, unveiling some fascinating figures.

The platforms intriguing developers the most are Meta Quest (63%), SteamVR (45%), Apple Vision Pro (26%), PlayStation VR/2 (25%), and Apple’s ARKit for smartphones (12%). You can check out the stats in the image provided.

However, what developers are interested in and what they’re actually working on don’t always match up. Developers seem to be focusing their projects mainly on Quest (59%), SteamVR (31%), and PSVR 2 (16%).

While 26% of the respondents have an interest in Apple’s Vision Pro, only 8% are developing for this new mixed reality ‘spatial computer,’ according to the survey data.

GDC mentions it’s challenging to compare these findings with previous years, as this was the first time XR-related questions were included in their annual survey. Nonetheless, they affirm that the number of developers working in XR has remained consistent, as have their platform preferences, possibly relying on less formal polls for this insight.

This consistency comes despite recent struggles in the games industry, with numerous studio closures and job losses impacting both traditional and XR developers since 2023.

It’s reassuring to hear that even with these challenges, XR development hasn’t wavered. Given the relatively smaller audience for XR games and experiences compared to traditional platforms, one might expect a shift in focus towards more predictable ventures. However, the dedication to XR projects remains strong.

We eagerly anticipate learning more at this year’s GDC, scheduled for March 17th – 22nd at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.